Reformation Celebration Kicks-Off With Sept. 21 Mini-Renaissance Fair

Limestone College has announced an extensive program of celebrations in the coming months to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.

It has been 500 years since Martin Luther set the Reformation in motion by nailing his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Church in Germany on October 31, 1517.

As part of its series “Reformation Reflections: The First 500 Years,” Limestone will mark the anniversary with a sequence of special events and presentations during the current academic year that will commemorate the rise of the Protestant church.

"Reformation Reflections is a commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the historic Protestant religious movement and its contemporary influence,” said Dr. Eric Schaefer, an English and Foreign Language Preceptor at Limestone. “The series of cultural and educational events is being led by the Limestone College Division of Arts and Letters and will occur at the throughout the 2017-18 academic year.”

The College is inviting the public to attend its free Mini-Renaissance Fair scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 21, from 5 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. on the front campus. Various games and activities will be taking place, along with a live performance by vocalists and actors from the Music and Theatre Departments, as well as performances by the Limestone College Chorus, Woodwind, and Brass ensembles.

With fire barrels serving as the backdrop, Professor of Music Dr. David Thompson will entertain on the harpsichord, and Reverend Toby Pope will be playing the viola de gamba, which is a bowed string instrument that first appeared in Europe in the late 15th century and subsequently became one of the most popular Renaissance instruments. Professor of Music Dr. Chip Hill will also perform on an antique Renaissance-style wooden recorder.

There will also be face painting, sword making, and other activities. Dr. Jonathan Sarnoff, Professor History, will also speak about the importance of the Reformation.

“We encourage not only our Limestone family, but the entire community to come out and join us for an evening of great fun,” said Dr. Gena Poovey, Limestone’s Professor of Choral and Vocal Music Education. “Bring a blanket, sit out on the lawn, and delight in all the activities and the entertainment that will take place on the plaza in front of Fullerton Auditorium. This will be one of many exciting events scheduled over the next nine months.”

Limestone will spend the rest of 2017 and the spring of 2018 exploring the Reformation, its impact and legacy, and its continuing relevance today.

“The Reformation anniversary year is a great opportunity for our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and our friends to explore with us the meaning and implications of the Reformation,” said Limestone President Dr. Walt Griffin. “We will be looking at the Reformation from many angles – not only its history and theology, but also its contributions to the arts.”

In the coming months there will be three Reformation-themed concerts at the College, a Mid-Winter Fest and Juried Reformation Art Show on January 23, and several special lectures by Limestone faculty members. For a full schedule of “Reformation Reflections” events taking place, please visit www.limestone.edu. More details about those upcoming events will be released soon.